A Christmas Nudge in the Right Direction
by Chrissy

"Attention shoppers we will be closing in twenty minutes. Please bring all purchases to the register at this time."

"No. I haven't found it yet!" Alexis growled in frustration as she kicked at the stuffed snowpeople at her feet that had spilled out over the top of the bin that was supposed to contain them. Not to mention the kids who picked them up and promptly threw them on the floor, and it drove her crazy that their parents watched and let them leave them there without one word to pick them up.

"Can I help you find something?"

She whipped around unloading on the unsuspecting man. "Yes! A gun because I'm going to kill Cameron for turning my daughter on to that damn.......COW."

"Merry Christmas Alexis," Sonny chuckled.

"Uh-um same to you. What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you. Last minute shopping on Christmas Eve."

"Actually I'm done, but Kristina's favorite toy broke, and nothing I seem to give her in it's place makes her happy, so I'm on the hunt for "Animal Barnyard" or something like that," she said, looking around for the sign to point her in the direction of baby toys.

"Well if you're not opposed to the idea I'll help you look for it."

"That won't be necessary. You have a nice Christmas."

"Alexis wait."

She turned and raised an eyebrow in his direction.

"Wait....please."

"Why are you doing this? We're no longer friends."

"I want to change that. I want us to be friends again."

"We can't go back Sonny."

"I know so let's go forward?"

"If only it were that simple. "

"It is. You meet me for an eggnog latte, and we play catch up," he said.

"And how would your wife feel about you and I playing catch up?"

"It's none of her business who my friends are."

"That's probably true, except when I'm one of those friends."

"Why are you so hell bent on finding excuses to remain out of my life?"

"I'm not. You now have everything you've ever wanted, your precious Carly and a family of your own. You don't need me!"

"Yes I do, or else I wouldn't be here trying to repair our friendship."

"Don't you get it? I have too much to lose now. I'm not willing to risk my daughter's life for you."

"But see that's the great thing. I'm out of the organization now."

"Good for you."

"Alexis!"

"I can't do it! Please just let it go!" Alexis walked quickly away not abandoning her search for Kristina's toy. Sonny followed. She finally found the blasted thing, checked the cow to make sure it was mooing and headed for the checkout. She tapped her foot impatiently as he refused to go away and give her any space. The fat-bearded man in the red suit watched them from a few feet away. His stint as Santa was over, but he couldn't help but feel sorry for the man who was clearly upset over the beautiful lady's anger towards him.

"Here buddy. You look like you could use a little bit of this," Santa said tossing him a sprig of mistletoe.

"Thanks Santa," Sonny said with a grin and put it in his coat pocket.

"That'll be $32.46 ma'am," the sales clerk told her.

"For that? Never mind it doesn't matter," Alexis smiled and handed the girl a fifty-dollar bill. "Merry Christmas." She took her change and grabbed the toy and headed for the exit. Sonny followed. "What will it take for you to leave me in peace?"

"A kiss to the tentative rebuilding of our friendship under the mistletoe, and then I'll go," Sonny told her as he pulled the mistletoe from his pocket.

"You're infuriating! "

"See nothing's changed," he dimpled.

"Fine!" Alexis grabbed him by the chin and planted a hard kiss on lips. "There. Goodbye!" She got in her car and barely missed running over his toes in her mad rush to put distance between herself and those damn dimples. Sonny followed. Alexis swore and cussed him ten ways to Sunday as she drove home. She thought she was making progress in getting him out of her head and heart, but with one look, and a few heartfelt admissions he was first and foremost in her thoughts once again. As she pulled into the parking garage of her apartment building, and noticed the limo turning in just a moment after, she sighed in defeat. Alexis snatched the toy from the backseat, and walked to the elevator ignoring his presence as he kept pace with her.

"Why do you hate me so much Alexis?" Sonny asked as the rode up to the 5th floor.

"I don't hate you. I just don't like you very much; at all actually."

"I've been a thoughtless, self-involved jerk where you're concerned when I should have made our friendship/relationship my priority. I apologize for that Alexis, but I would love to get back what we had. I think it's important for both of our sakes that we put the past behind us, and move on."

"Easier said than done when there are huge reminders of the past hanging around in the present," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing forget I said anything." The elevator signaled the fifth floor. "This is where I get off....the elevator."

"Do you mind if I come in?"

"Yes, but I doubt that will deter you, so by all means; come in."

"Hi Ms. Davis," Georgie smiled as she bounced Kristina on her lap.

"Hi Georgie. How was my angel?"

"Perfect. She's so sweet, cute, and didn't cry once. Hi, Mr. Corinthos."

"Georgie."

" Come here Little One." Alexis picked Kristina up and hugged her to her body taking in her sweet baby smell. "Oooo I love you." It became quite clear to Sonny that the love Alexis felt for her daughter was pure, genuine and returned whole-heartedly by the little girl who couldn't seem to get enough of her mother.

"You did good Alexis," he said eyeing Kristina.

"You won't get any argument from me. Thanks again Georgie."

"You're welcome Ms. Davis. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you too."

"So where is Dr. Lewis? Working late?" Sonny asked as he looked around her apartment searching for signs of the man's presence.

"No. I wised up, and told him to relocate post-haste. It wasn't working out for any us, and Kristina was becoming to attached to him."

"She needs a father Alexis."

"She has one Sonny and I don't see how this is any of your business."

"Damn right she does, me!" He screamed on the inside. He'd had time to deal with the anger and resentment he felt, and was determined to make this as easy on both of them as possible. "Ned gave up his parental rights to Kristina. Why would he do that when he fought so hard to keep her all to himself?"

"He realized that she belongs with her mother. It was as simple as that."

"Nothing with you is simple Alexis. So tell me, what do you want for Christmas?"

"I already have it right here," she said as she smiled at Kristina.

"Are you sure there's not something else?"

"Like what?"

"Me."

"You?"

"You miss me don't ya?"

"Granted I miss certain aspects of our friendship, but that doesn't mean I want you back in my life."

"So elaborate further on what you miss," Sonny said.

"If I do discuss this with you, when I'm finished will you leave?"

"Maybe."

"Fair enough. I miss your cooking. I miss our talks, but most of all I miss being able to trust someone implicitly."

"I miss being able to do those things for you, and I miss not being that person for you."

"Regrets won't do us any good now. Kristina's getting tired, and I need to put her down for the night," she said.

"Ok."

"That's was your cue to go."

"I know it was, but I'd rather stay and help you put OUR daughter down for the night."

"Our daughter?"

"There's no use denying it Alexis. I knew she was mine the second after I asked you, and you lied to me about it. I could see it in your eyes."

"So if you knew, then why did you stay away? Why didn't you help me get her back from the Quartermaines?"

"I was in bad place personally, and professionally. I wanted to punish you. I hated her being there, but I knew she was physically safe, and my anger towards you for lying to me overshadowed the need I felt to help you."

"You bastard! All that time I missed with her and you could have prevented it!" Alexis hissed.

"I was a bastard, but she was safer with them at the time, and you had dug yourself a hole that you couldn't get out of very easily. Had I helped you or showed that I cared even the least bit about you or your daughter I don't even want to think what could have happened. Faith Roscoe and Luis Alcazar have no qualms about murder or using the people I love to get what they want. It was the best thing to do at the time Alexis, and knowing how you feel about my business I'm guessing that's the very reason you lied to me about our child."

"You guessed right, but what I don't understand is that if you knew, then why when she was fighting for her life did you not come see her?"

"I did several times. The night you left to confront Alcazar, when you'd leave for 10 minutes to take a shower or get a cup of coffee. I got as close as I could as often as I could. I'd peek at you with her through the window. I saw you hold her for the first time on Christmas Eve, and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," Sonny told her as tears formed in his eyes at the memory.

"I don't even know where to begin," Alexis said as her mind was reeling from all the unexpected information.

"Why don't we begin with you letting me hold our daughter for the first time on Christmas Eve." Alexis took a deep steadying breath and placed the sleepy little girl in her father's arms. "Hi baby. I missed you so much. Daddy loves you." He held Kristina close and felt her relax into sleep against his shoulder. "I don't want to let her go."

"I understand that feeling, but it is getting late. Do you want to put her down together?"

"I'd like that very much," Sonny said as they walked side by side to Kristina's bedroom. They changed her diaper, put her in her favorite sleeper with the pink bunnies on it, and laid her down in the crib, and each gave her a kiss on the forehead. She remained fast asleep as they switched off the light and went back into the living room. "Thank you for that Alexis. I want you to know that until I'm sure we're all safe my involvement with you and Kristina will be very private, and extremely limited. I'm not willing to risk either one of you to fulfill my own need to be with the both of you."

"I appreciate that. Hang on one second I have something for you," She said as he waited by the door. Alexis returned with the package wrapped in pretty red paper with a white satin bow. "I've wanted to give this to you since last Christmas, but I never got the chance. I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I'll love it. Goodnight Alexis."

"Goodnight Sonny, oh and one other thing. Open that when you're alone, and I'd prefer Carly not know about it."

"No problem," He said with a smile and walked out the door. He sat in the limo with the package on his lap for only a few seconds unable to resist the urge to see what she had given him. He tore into the gift with the enthusiasm of a five-year old on Christmas morning. The smile on his face was permanent, as he looked at the photo in the silver frame. Alexis was holding Kristina for the first time. A smile, wide and joyous lit her face, and touched her eyes. His daughter stared at her mother enraptured and content, enjoying the warmth and security of her touch. It brought tears to his eyes, as he clutched it to his chest and held it close to his heart. "My girls."

Alexis turned out the light and gazed at the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. "My need to be with both of you." His words played over and over again in her head. This day had not gone as planned, but it couldn't have turned out better. She sighed and relaxed into the soft cushions.

"Max! Turn the car around!"

"You got it boss."

The sharp knock snapped her out of her reverie. "Sonny."

"I wanted to thank you in person for my present. I love it." He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly, deeply. Alexis leaned into him absorbing his heat and his kiss. She was helpless to his stop her arms from wrapping around his neck and the moan that escaped as his tongue found hers. Sonny ended the kiss before they reached the point of no return. Alexis stood stunned as she regained her bearings, her fingertips pressed against her kiss swollen lips.

"Merry Christmas Alexis," He said quickly and turned to leave before he invited himself in, and never left.

"Merry Christmas Sonny," she closed the door softly and leaned against it catching her breath. Her hands went to her flushed cheeks, and her tongue licked the last taste of him from her lips. Alexis rolled her eyes heavenward and prayed for the strength to resist temptation. "God help me."